Solved Problem Restoring System Partition Image

jonnyz2

New Member
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Problem Restoring UEFI System Partition

Hi,

There seem to be a lot of threads on this general subject but they all seem to focus on using the built in W8 function. I've not been able to find one that addresses my issue. So, sorry if this has been asked before.

Using a User Profile tool and experimenting with copying profile settings, I managed to corrupt my W8.1 install. I thought, no, problem, I'd made images of the system partition and I would restore one of those.

Upon attempting to copy one of those image files back to the system partition, I found my machine unbootable.

I used Aomei Partition Assistant to create the image and to copy it back. Aomei though requires that the destination partition be deleted before it will copy and I think that's the root of the problem. I suspect that Aomei destroys the hidden UEFI partitions in the process which renders the machine unbootable. I did check with Diskpart and could see that I no longer had four partitions after the above which does indicate that Aomei did trash one of the other partitions.

I have now used my bootable install media to make a new windows 8 instal on the machine. I can see with Diskpart that the machine again has the four UEFI partitions.

So, now I'm ready to try again to copy my backup system partition to the new system partition. I had put in lots of work updating to 8.1, installing software, and customizing settings, etc. so I'd rather not reinstall everything again!

The question is how to do this without messing it up again. By the way, windows own "restore from image" function will not allow me to select my Aomei created drive image.

My thought right now is to find a different partition copy tool which will allow me to OVERWRITE the new system partition on the machine (as said Aomei Partition Assistant does not allow this). The old version of Norton Ghost would do that, but my only copy is floppy based and this new MOBO doesn't even have a floppy connector.

Two areas where I need advice:

  1. I'd appreciate advice on the best next steps. I do want to maintain the setup as UEFI and I'm wondering whether there's anthing else I need to know about UEFI installs that would suggest another approach.
  2. If indeed I can solve this by overwriting the partition (instead of deleting and creating a new one), I'd appreciate a recommendation for a bootable tool (USB or CD) that will help with this.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Macrium Reflect Free is what I'd try. When you make the image just click on the top left where it says to the effect "create an image that can save and restore Windows." To make the boot media you need to download the WinPE. But the boot creator does that for you. The download is around 370 MB or so. But on my Laptop it took only about 10 minutes to download.

If you have USB you can make a boot USB with the restore image on it. I'd recommend getting a 32 GB USB stick. Of course you could store the image on an external USB. That way you can use a smaller USB stick just for booting.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
Just to clarify....

Right now I want to restore an existing partition clone. I have a clone/image of the System partition and I want to use it to restore my computer. I am not currently looking to create a new image of the new install.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I'm not familiar with the tool you used. According to the product site it does support GPT partitions. I think I would post here:
Experience Exchange - aomeitech
as there are guaranteed to be users of that imaging software. Also someone else may chime in here.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
MilesAhead: It doesn't seem that you are tracking to my original post.

This is NOT an Aomei question. I've already said that tool cannot do what I think is the right next step.

I have an image of a windows 8 system partition and I believe I need to clone that image over a new windows 8 system partition.

My first question was what are the best next steps to use that system partition backup image under these circumstances. That's a Windows 8 question. It's also one that I believe is particularly related to W8 UEFI install. I don't fully understand the purpose of the 4 partitions created by an UEFI install and in part am looking for guidance that my theory for how to proceed is correct.

Second, if cloning over the new system partition is the correct route, I'm asking for advice on what tool will ALLOW (because Aomei will not) an OVERWRITE of the new system partition. I will need a CD bootable or USB bootable tool.

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I used Aomei Partition Assistant to create the image and to copy it back.

I'll let someone else take it from here as I think we are at an impasse.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
I used Aomei Partition Assistant to create the image and to copy it back.

I'll let someone else take it from here as I think we are at an impasse.

jonnyz2 said:
This is NOT an Aomei question. I've already said that tool cannot do what I think is the right next step.

If the image was not made with AOMEI, which imaging APP did you use?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4

Thanks!



If the image was not made with AOMEI, which imaging APP did you use?

I wonder if the word "image" has different meanings. I have a full, uncompressed, clone of the original system partition that I want to restore to the machine. So, it does not matter how it was created.

Unfortunately, the tool that I have used won't allow me to overwrite the NEW system partition.

I'm still wondering if folks agree that overwriting the new system partition is the correct next step.

Also, any advice on an appropriate tool for that would be appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Unfortunately, the tool that I have used won't allow me to overwrite the NEW system partition.

I am not aware of anything that can do that from within windows. You need bootable media.

Take your pick, there are lots, including Aomei.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
The screenshot below is of a cloned HDD, in a USB HDD dock.

Clone003.PNG

Post a screenshot of your clone.



I wonder if the word "image" has different meanings. I have a full, uncompressed, clone of the original system partition that I want to restore to the machine. So, it does not matter how it was created.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Maybe if you went through the exact process you used to create your backup, we could better understand your situation.

For instance, you used the Aoemi Backupper utility and the System Backup option?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB
I think this is the situation:

He doesn't have an image file. He cloned the system partition.

The OP is surprised windows system image doesn't recognise it, and that Aomei will not clone it back again from within windows.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Can't he mount that clone and image the mounted partition ??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
"Image" and "Clone"

Thanks for everyone's attention on this. I do appreciate everyone's involvement.



Disk image

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Disk images, in computing, are computer files containing the contents and structure of a disk volume or an entire data storage device, such as a hard drive, tape drive, floppy disk, optical disc or USB flash drive. A disk image is usually created by creating a sector-by-sector copy of the source medium, thereby perfectly replicating the structure and contents of a storage device.


I think, as I suggested before, the word "image" is being used in this thread with two different meanings. I've always thought "image" and "clone" are synonymous. Certainly the above suggests that's the case.

I've also said partway through the thread that I had a clone of the system partition.

It seems though that others here have a different understanding of "image."

Regardless of whether there is actually a correct and single meaning of the word, I think it will be useful to keep in mind that some may use "image" and "clone" interchangeably.

Hopefully, that will help reduce confusion in the future.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Solution

With no input in the UEFI question, I decided just to go ahead and try out what I thought might work.

I did find that my original guess on what to do did work successfully. Although initially, it looked like it would not (more in a moment).

For clarity sake and to perhaps help someone else in the future, here's the complete process.

  1. Obtain a bootable partition cloning tool which will allow you to overwrite another partition with existing data in it.
  2. Do a clean install of W8 in UEFI mode. This will create 4 UEFI partitions.
  3. Attach the drive with your backup system-partition clone. Clone that backup system-partition over the new W8 system-partition. This will completely overwrite all content in the system-partition created in step 2.
  4. Restart.
  5. Watch windows enter a "repair" function (this is where things looked bad). Although I didn't time it, it seemed that the process took about 10 minutes. I don't recall if windows auto restarted the PC or if I had to restart it. If necessary, restart the PC.
  6. Upon restart the system booted with all of my previous setup and content in place. At this point it seems to be working completely correctly.


This appears to have worked for me but I would feel more comfortable recommending the approach if I better understood why Windows entered a repair mode and if I knew what was done in that repair mode.

Since this whole fiasco started, I've learned that Windows 8 has a built in tool for creating a recovery set and I'm going to investigate that further as I'm not that confident that the process above is actually a sound approach. It is simply what I had to work with given the situation.

My recommendation is to only do this if you have no other choice.

By the way, my use of "system-partition" above refers to the partition where the windows files are installed. This guide: http://www.eightforums.com/installa...new-ssd-s-getting-8-0-8-1-a-2.html#post335416 calls the same partition the "primary" partition.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Looks like what you did is to format the disk with the dummy installation. I wonder whether there is not an easier way to do that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
I think, as I suggested before, the word "image" is being used in this thread with two different meanings. I've always thought "image" and "clone" are synonymous. Certainly the above suggests that's the case.

I've also said partway through the thread that I had a clone of the system partition.

It seems though that others here have a different understanding of "image."

Regardless of whether there is actually a correct and single meaning of the word, I think it will be useful to keep in mind that some may use "image" and "clone" interchangeably.

Hopefully, that will help reduce confusion in the future.
I think of them as different entities, since they need to be handled differently. For instance, what file extension is attached to a "Cloned" backup?

I have wondered about the exact makeup of a Cloned install, since I have seen problems in the past with Drive letter confusion after cloning... I suppose that migh depend on how the clone is done. I have re-imaged my system many times, but have never done a clone.

Anyway, a System image (file) will copy all the necessary partitions for your install to operate normally. I don't know if the Repair Windows did on your system took care of the Recovery Options, but you might check.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB
Looks like what you did is to format the disk with the dummy installation. I wonder whether there is not an easier way to do that.

I think that is mostly correct. Certainly I used windows install to again setup the partitions on the drive. I also think it did more though. I also believe the install places files in one of the partitions to control the boot process, load drivers, etc.

I have wondered about the exact makeup of a Cloned install, since I have seen problems in the past with Drive letter confusion after cloning... I suppose that migh depend on how the clone is done. I have re-imaged my system many times, but have never done a clone.

What I used was a clone created by a partition to partition cloning process. That results in an exact copy of the original partition. In my case, it was written to a partition on an external drive.

There is no file extension.

Upon completing Step 3 there are no changes to partition position on the drive or the "drive" letter assigned to the partition.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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